I'd suggest going for a Springfield 1911 A1 as a great starter for this type. It's a solid basic pistol and gives you a lot of options for future add ons, if you so desire. I would go with the basic trigger job, hogue wrap around finger grips and a match barrel bushing. Lots of fun.

The Caspian/Wilson custom is my favorite its a 70 series has a much better trigger and the slide to frame fit is phenomenal just to mention a few things, the Colt CE is no slouch, and the Remington R1 is a good 1911 for less than$776 it point really nice in my hand.

This is my baby. Damnit I love this gun. Budsgunshop.com has them for ~$700, other places i've seen that carry them for $800+ (ridiculous). My suggestion is to buy from somewhere like Buds or Cheaperthandirt so you avoid paying sales tax...sales tax on a $700 purchase adds up to a LOT of money =) (and that money could be better spent on some ammo!)

In that price range you have plenty of options. You could go budget and get a Rock Island which have proved to be pretty reliable, a Springfield would be another wise choice as you should be able to get a "loaded" model in that price range which are very great 1911's that offer an already semi custom look (skeletonized hammer and trigger) or you can get a Sig 1911 that will get you a skeletonized hammer and the front strap checkering that i prefer. A lot of members on FTF don't like the square look of the Sig 1911's but they do offer their line of "traditional" 1911's that have the skelentonized hammer and trigger with the front strap checkering and the rounded slide. I would go with the Springer or the Sig. My higher end Sig Stx 1911 has proven to be IMO a work of art and shoots like a dream. No hiccups, very accurate and very reliable. This is what my Sig looks like after some inexpensive mods.

__________________GOFFA Council MemberGun Owners For a Free America

"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom."
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"Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom."
~John F. Kennedy